Burundi explosion at ammunitions depot kills civilians in Bujumbura, witnesses say
bbc.com • • world
Key Points:
- At least four people have died following a series of powerful explosions at an ammunitions depot in Bujumbura, Burundi's largest city, caused by an electrical fault, according to local residents and an army spokesperson.
- The blasts, which lasted several hours, propelled shrapnel and debris over 5km, destroying several houses in nearby districts and injuring numerous inmates at the nearby Mpimba Central Prison.
- Authorities have not yet confirmed casualty figures, but eyewitnesses and family members report multiple deaths, including a domestic worker and a detainee at the prison.
- The explosions caused widespread panic in the city of over a million people, with residents seeking refuge and calling for official reassurance that the danger has passed.
- President Evariste Ndayishimiye expressed condolences and assured that authorities are providing assistance as they continue to assess the damage.
